Sunday Snippet: Just Do It Already

Well, April still feels like a mix of winter and summer but not spring. We have hot days then plummet back to cold. I’m hoping May evens it out and we hold steady for a while.

Had a crazy-busy week with work. More projects coming in hot and needing immediate attention. I’m so happy that all of them are absolutely fun and exciting to work on. I love them!

I did have very limited time for viewing this week. I don’t mind the trade off, because I usually have an old standby on in the background like Perry Mason, Columbo, or Murder, She Wrote.

I did finish up Strangest Things and I ended up enjoying the episode.

I also caught another episode in my great rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This upcoming week, we’re going with a double header to round out season one.

I’ll be starting a new episode of The Mandalorian later tonight.

I also got to listen to my daughter’s radio show. It’s finals week and they get to choose their music. My daughter and her co-DJ picked seventies hits for their time slot. And they made great choices if I do say so. And I do.

That’s pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight’s post is from Just Do It Already, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here’s the mini-blurb:

On an annual get together with a group of friends, Minnie Roberts gets her chance to test the waters with Reuben Harper who's had a string of bad luck with the dating pool. Reuben is blind to Minnie's interest, and she catches him off guard when she suggests a strings-free weekend with each other.

And a snippety peek…

Minnie decided to pull Reuben out of his shell—kicking and screaming if necessary. "Give me two shots of lemon vodka." Something sour to match his disposition.

The bartender deftly poured two glasses and slid them over.

She smiled her thanks, grabbed the glasses, and headed for the table where Reuben sat alone, still sulking the night away.

She placed the shot in front of him. "Drink up. My treat." She settled onto the chair next to him.

Reuben gave her a startled look. "Thought you were meeting the crew outside." His finger traced the rim of the glass.

Minnie shrugged. "I'll make it out there at some point. Right now, you and I are going to do these"—she picked up her tumbler and raised her brows—"and you're not going to leave me hanging."

Reuben's lips quirked. "Fine. But just the one." He raised his shot and tossed it back then sputtered when the tangy lemon hit his taste buds.

Minnie drank hers down with a chuckle.

Reuben's mouth puckered. "You could've warned me." He shook his head then grabbed his water, diluting the lemon taste.

Minnie nodded. "True. But you kind of needed a taste of your own medicine. You've been a true downer since you walked in the door of the rental." Not that she didn't understand, but his vibe had everyone on a downturn.

Reuben narrowed his gaze. "You're not gonna start, too, are you?" He shoved the glass to the middle of the table.

Minnie held up a hand. "Not really. This isn't about ribbing you. More like offering some friendly advice." She might get slapped back, but she'd make an effort.

The timing would never be this good again.

Reuben put his forearms on the table. "Okay, let's hear it."

She slid her gaze sideways, then leaned in closer to him. "Get some, Rueb. You need it." She patted his shoulder.

He huffed out a breath. "Oh really? What makes you say that?" His brows arched.

Minnie rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? You're cranky and driving everyone crazy." She pitched her voice lower. "Get laid. It'll make everyone happy. Believe me." Okay, everyone but her, depending on how things went.

Reuben schooled his features. "I'll think about it." He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest.

Minnie blinked. "What's to think about? This bar is full of exciting prospects. All you have to do is choose one." She waved her hand toward the main floor.

Reuben cast his gaze in the direction she indicated then grunted. "I have standards, Minn."

She bit her cheek, a flutter of hope sparking in her veins. "You're missing the point." And at least two blondes, a brunette, and a cute girl with a blue pixie cut.

Reuben met her gaze. "Not really. I don't have to overthink it, but I do have to be attracted to someone before making a move." He glanced away and toyed with the napkin.

Minnie tilted her head. "Hmm. Okay then." She debated for less than a second before she put herself out there. "What about me?"

Reuben's head snapped back up. "What about you?"

She straightened and squared her shoulders. "Am I not up to your standards?" Her heart hammered a little because his answer could sting.

He blinked. "Wait. What? Are you suggesting…" He motioned between them.

Minnie lifted her chin. "I'm putting it out there." And really hoping not to get stomped on.

Reuben cocked his head. "Okay, why?"

He didn't sound disinterested or freaked out. A good sign. But how to answer?

The truth usually worked well. "Look, I've always found you hot. But we've been friends for a long time, and you've never expressed an interest."

His eyebrows shot up. "I could say the same about you."

Her lips twitched. "The hot part or the interested part?"

His lips curled. "Let's go with both." He sobered. "But the whole friends thing could get complicated."

She wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. "Look, it doesn't have to be anything more than a hookup. You know, helping a friend out…" And hopefully not getting wrecked in the process.

I love how Minnie is willing to go for it even if she fears having her heart slightly bruised. Reuben better tread carefully…

 

That’s it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Dessert (a Black Unicorn Comics sexy short)

Celebrated my thirty-fourth anniversary this weekend! We had crappy weather, so we brought Chinese home and stayed in for the evening.

Had another busy work week and I'm so thankful the projects are rolling in. Working on a terrific manuscript and I'm so excited to dive into the story. This will be a fun one!

Had a so-so week of viewing television. I'm still focusing on the great cleanup and spent a good amount of time reorganizing and rearranging things in my living room.

I did finish up Wednesday and I enjoy this show so much. I'm excited to see where things go from here.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. The autumn leaves one is fun. I love how much this show still appeals to both kids and adults.

Watched the premier episode of Brokenwood Mysteries season nine. This is another show I have a lot of love for. I miss a few of the original recurring characters but I'm enjoying some of the newer ones. Trudy in particular ends up being fun.

Enjoyed an episode of Endeavor. I'm kind of sad to see Thursday falling in with the new crew. But I'm hoping there might be a twist to this thread. We'll see what happens.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm nearing the end of the classic episodes and I'm happy I did a full rewatch. There are a bunch of episodes I either missed as a kid or completely forgot.

Started a new Silent Witness two-parter. I kind of like seeing Nikki in therapy. Not really sure what's going on with Jack, but he's never boring. Thomas is another one I'm not sure about. His interaction, or lack thereof, with his daughter left a lot to be desired. Clarissa is awesome as always.

Enjoyed another episode of Battlestar Galactica. This is another one of my favorites because Lee Adama steps fully into the role of being a badass.

Also needed some background noise and I ended up watching the Surf Now channel and The Forgotten Coast. Ended up enjoying it a lot.

Started another episode of Strangest Things. Kind of an odd mix of topics with this one, but very interesting so far.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Dessert, a Black Unicorn Comics sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

On Brian and Lucy's anniversary, they receive a gift from his gran that has the couple reliving their first night together.

And a snippety peek…

Lucy snapped her fingers and nudged Brian's shoulder. "You were back there, weren't you?"

Brian blinked and shook his head, giving her a sheepish grin. "Pretty much. But I also had the run-in with Chelle at Wizard Con, so yeah, the whys we didn't work are right there."

Lucy snorted. "You pretty much had the list down the night we got together." She didn't mind reliving the wicked-hot way they hooked up.

She got to her feet and offered him a hand. "Do you remember what I said once we ended up here?" She smiled at the memory.

Brian grinned. "That rebound sex rocked?" His eyebrows waggled.

Lucy laughed. "No. If I recall, I said you definitely needed somebody to rock your world with awesome sex." She headed for the living room.

Brian followed and dropped down on the couch. "And then you promptly volunteered." He kicked back with a smirk.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "No … first, I gave you a kickass striptease." She did a sexy twirl then met his gaze. "You were sitting on the couch…"

Brian gave a nod. "Like I am now." He spread his arms over the back cushions.

Lucy flashed a smile. "Like you are now." She crossed to their music player. "And I put on some music." She scrolled through and found a playlist. "Then I turned around and kicked off a flip-flop." She sent one sailing in his direction.

Brian reached out and snagged it from the air. "Which I caught, naturally." He deftly retrieved the second shoe, also.

Lucy grasped the hem of her tank top and inched the fabric upward. "And you were banging on and on about leaving dinner before getting dessert." She slid the shirt up and off, letting it drop to the floor, before she popped the button on her shorts and wriggled her hips in a slow gyration. "What did I say again?" The bottoms did a slow fall to her ankles, leaving her in her bra and panties.

Brian's gaze raked over her before he answered. "You said … I thought I mentioned I've got dessert covered." He blew out a breath. "And you so did." He made a hum of satisfaction.

Nothing like offering herself up as the sweet treat…

Lucy strolled toward him. "That's right. Even if we didn't get to the actual eating part until five a.m." She leaned in close, brushing her mouth over his. "But the wait was so worth it."

This is such a fun couple to write. Brian and Lucy are very close to my heart.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Dance

Had a wild week with several work projects coming in hot and taxiing on the runway. Also had some wild weather, which isn't a big shock. We're supposed to be chilly again sometime next week, which I'm not looking forward to.

Very slow week of viewing. Between the work projects, weather, and an award ceremony for my daughter's university, I didn't get a lot watched.

I did get another episode of Pennyworth watched and, ugh, it kind of broke my heart. The fallout is not going to be pretty, I'm sure.

Watched one of my very favorite episodes of Battlestar Galactica with "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down." Seriously, the acting in this episode is beyond stellar. The dinner party from hell has to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire series, which okay, might not be saying much because the subject matter of the series isn't always open to humor. But kudos to the writers for working it in whenever they could.

I also started a new episode of Wednesday and I'm definitely settling in and enjoying the wild ride. The snark is top notch and Wednesday's quest to find answers that keeps generating more questions intrigues me. I love this show.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Dance, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Kevin Hale returns home to help his family put their craft brewery on the map, he has to work with Alice Frank—the girl he left behind—to launch an event to benefit local businesses in a slow summer month. Alice is wary of getting involved with Kevin again—his wanderlust is well-known and she's definitely a hometown girl—but his creativity spurs hers and she takes a chance that he'll stick around this time.

And a snippety peek…

"Happy Hills Farm Brewery, how can I help you today?"

Kevin Hale grinned at the greeting from his mom. "Mom? That's a great opening salvo. How's everything going? How's Benj working out?" He grabbed his bag from the luggage conveyor.

Brenna Hale sighed. "Oh, Kev. I'm so glad you called. Benj is actually wonderful. He's teaching your brothers all his trade secrets to brewing excellent ale." Her voice lowered. "But we need more business. I'm getting concerned about paying the property taxes."

Kevin exited the baggage claim area and made his way to the rental car kiosk. "I know, Mom. I have an idea about that. I'll fill you in when I get home. I'm picking up a rental now, so give me an hour, maybe ninety minutes." Then he'd be home for good.

Brenna's tone brightened. "You're so close. It'll be good to see you again." She chuckled. "Well, you know what I mean. FaceTime and Zoom aren't the same as having you home."

He smiled. "I know, Mom. Tell Frank and Vince I'd like to have everyone together for dinner. Maybe we can hit the Warehouse?" Nostalgia filled him … the old brick restaurant had been their favorite while growing up.

Brenna promised his brothers would be available, and Benj, who'd become an honorary family member. Kevin thanked his lucky stars Benj Heinmiller agreed to pull up stakes and move to the US and share his wealth of knowledge for brewing a smooth ale in a variety of flavors. Their chance meeting at a conference for craft beers had been the best thing to happen during Kevin's long journey to discover what he wanted from life.

Kevin ended the call and picked up his rental. Before heading out of the parking lot, he pulled up his email app and sent an inquiry to the local chamber of commerce to request a meeting with their head of event planning at their earliest convenience in the following week if possible. He included his contact information and the brewery's. If he could get the chamber on board with his idea, he'd consider it a win.

And he needed one. He wanted to start off on the right foot with his return home. Because he'd come to stay.

After traveling the world, he wanted to explore familiar surroundings again. "Long past time I put down some roots to see what sprouts."

This one is in the very beginning stages of coming together and I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Jingle Jangle Jingle

Happy spring holidays for those who celebrate. We're having a nice, quiet weekend with excellent weather for once.

Long work week but I got a lot accomplished. Should have one of my projects finished up this week and another ready to move on to the next phase. The third is in a holding pattern for now and we'll pick that one back up in about two weeks.

Had an okay week of watching television. I've also been working on the great clean out project again and that limited some of my viewing time.

I started out with Strangest Things. This show always entertains me with the wild and weird stuff they feature. The psychograph shed some light on at least one X-Files storyline for me.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Flesh and Bone." The reintroduction of the Leoben character is an excellent watch, even if I completely dislike that particular model of cylon. The acting is terrific in this episode.

Caught another episode of The Mandalorian. Nice to see the big bad from last season is still a big bad. Always great to see Carl Weathers. Loved Grogu's antics in this one. Can't wait to watch the next episode.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Loved seeing the fan crew again. Not sure how I feel about bringing Jan back into the story but I'm thoroughly enjoying the new wrinkle with Oliver and Teddy. I'm looking forward to the next episode.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jingle, Jangle, Jingle, a holiday-themed romance with a twist on a classic.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Work keeps getting in the way of Felicia Hammond and Marshall Greene being able to spend time together. When Marshall pulls off a holiday vacation package, they're excited to get away together. But Felicia is added to the schedule at the hospital and won't be able to go. Unknown to each other, both try to make the best out of the situation so they can have a happy holiday season.

And a snippety peek…

Marshall Greene fist-pumped the air. "You're not joking, are you? I can really have the house for a full week?" At Christmastime…

Cade Hampton, a friend of a friend, laughed. "I'm not joking. The Wallaces are going to visit family this year and won't be in the mountains. The house is yours."

Marshall leaned back in his chair. "Man, that's great. I can't wait to tell Felicia." They'd been trying to get away for months.

Cade provided more information. "I'll email the directions and instructions. They'll accept a deposit to hold the date and you can send the balance a week ahead of time." He paused a moment. "They'll leave the keys at the hardware store in the village. They've got a system prearranged with the owner."

Marshall agreed to get the deposit into the Wallaces’ account by the end of the day. "I'll transfer the funds electronically then email to confirm receipt." He needed to get something special in for a late dinner to surprise Felicia.

Cade signed off. "Sounds great. Let me know if you and Dan want to set up a wing night sometime soon. We can catch a hockey game in the bar." Dan Burk being the friend that put Marshall in touch with Cade.

Marshall loved the idea. "Will do. Felicia will be working nights next week. I'll have Dan reach out when he's free." After ending the call, he quickly texted Felicia. "Hey, don't pick anything up for dinner. I'll have it ready and waiting for you."

While scrolling through options on his phone, he grinned. Snagging the house nestled in the mountains for the holiday couldn't be a better gift for themselves. They tried getting to the beach over the summer, but he'd been called out of the state for a consulting job. He could work from anywhere, so he had more flexibility with his schedule. But the rare occasion of getting called directly to a site messed up their vacation plans. Felicia ended up going with two of her friends. Dan's significant other and their college roommate. All three women were on staff at the local hospital and ended up being able to book the time off together.

Marshall found the menu he wanted and quickly placed an order for delivery at seven. He'd have time to get the entrees plated up and on the table before Felicia arrived home. Opening his banking app, he made a transfer to the Wallaces then got up to head for a shower. On the way his phone pinged with an incoming text. His lips curved when he read the message.

"Sounds wonderful. Hope you ordered from Mamie's."

He chuckled … because he did.

I'm not completely certain where this one is going to go, but it's something of an update on an old holiday classic.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Jack in the Box

An interesting start to April with howling winds and a kaleidoscope of weather. We got a mix of pretty much everything. Rain, flurries, high wind advisory, and temperatures all over the place.

Solid week of editing. I have three projects that are moving forward at a great pace. I'm looking forward to getting these completed.

Had a decent week of television. I'm not quite back to my full rotation but I've been writing a lot more and that's not a bad thing.

Caught another episode of Wednesday. I love the lore and world building in this show. Didn't know if I'd like having Wednesday at the center of a prophecy but I like where things are going at the moment.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Always fun to catch a couple that don't always make the rotation of encores.

Enjoyed the finale of Midsomer Murders. I kind of miss when they did six to eight episodes per season, but the four we have this time around are all excellent.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Six Degress of Separation." This episode has so many great one-liners with two coming from Doc Cottle. Seriously, it's hard to top the writing and acting in this show.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and it ended up being a bit of a doozy. I think I have five episodes left of this series and a lot is supposed to happen. Not sure I'm quite ready for it.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. I'm nearing the end of this season and I'm not sure where things are going with this arc, but I'm excited to find out.

Started the second half of Silent Witness. Nikki just can't catch a break. I'm quite interested in finding out where the twists are leading. Update next week on this.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jack in the Box, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Carter Gill can't say no when someone needs a favor, which isn't a bad thing until he overextends, doesn't seem to have enough hours in the day, and his relationship with April Walters suffers. April understands and supports Carter's need to help people, but she has to convince him to slow down a little if only to avoid cracking under the pressure.

And a snippety peek…

April Walters woke up to an empty bed. "Wonder what Carter got into so early." Then again, eleven a.m. didn't really qualify as the crack of dawn.

But for bar owner Carter Gill, anything before then counted as ugly o'clock.

April grabbed a quick shower and padded down to the second floor from the third-story loft she shared with Carter. Walking past the three apartments, she jogged down to the bar level and entered from the rear into the kitchen. Mavis Sample, the day-shift manager unpacked produce boxes.

April waved. "Hey, Mave. Know where Carter is?" They had an appointment at a nearby hiking trail for some downtime.

Mavis rolled her eyes and nodded toward the delivery door. "Check outside. Parker pulled Carter out to help with something in the truck." She went back to sorting salad bags and vegetables for the lunch crowd, which had already started arriving.

April frowned and headed out to the alley along the side of the building. Sure enough, Carter had a dolly with boxes stacked on it. Parker Mills, the delivery driver sat on stacked boxes and had his foot propped up on a crate, his ankle surrounded by a brace.

She paused beside Parker. "Hey, what happened to you?"

Parker grimaced. "Got tangled up with a set of stairs and they won." He pointed to the splint. "Got a severe sprain and have to wear this brace for who knows how long." His gaze went to Carter. "Gilly's gonna help me repack the truck so it's easier to maneuver around in." He sent a thumbs-up in Carter's direction.

April's lips quirked at Parker's nickname for Carter. They'd been friends since grade school and added the 'Y' to their rhyming last names sometime in first grade. April thanked the universe she didn't arrive in their orbit until high school. Walty didn't appeal on any level.

She squeezed Parker's shoulder. "Want some ice or anything?"

Parker shook his head. "Nah. I'm good. Gilly's gonna come along on the route today, do the driving so I can elevate the foot. With two unloading, I'll probably be done earlier than usual and can ice it down when I get home."

April met Carter's gaze. "You're going along?" Meaning they wouldn't be heading to the hiking trail.

Carter's eyes filled with regret. "Yeah. Think it would be better for Millsy. He almost backed into the dumpster because the brace makes driving difficult." He propped his arm on the handle of the dolly. "Shit. We were supposed to hit Feather Run today, weren't we?" He swiped his free hand over his face. "Can we reschedule for next week?"

April shrugged. "You can. I'm heading up there, at least for a while. I need the green space." Especially since he'd forgotten they had plans … again.

Carter pulled his lower lip between his teeth. "You don't mind? I'll make the time next week. I promise." He grabbed another crate and loaded it.

April didn't answer right away. Yes, she minded. But not enough to have a bitch fit over another canceled date.

She rolled a shoulder. "Can't leave a friend hanging." Even if it meant not spending time with the significant other. "I guess I'll see you for the late shift." She turned to head back into the bar.

Carter caught up with her, grasping her shoulder. "Hey, thanks for understanding." He tilted her chin and meshed his lips with hers. "I will make it up to you."

April's lips curved. "Yeah, okay." She glanced toward Parker. "Be careful out there. Don't do any more damage to the foot." With a wave, she went back inside.

Mavis paused chopping vegetables and arched her brows. "Let me guess. Parker roped Carter into helping on the route today." She lifted the knife. "And you two had plans, not that Mr. Help Everyone probably remembered." Her eyebrows arched, daring April to deny the statement.

April waved a hand. "Called it right on both counts. But I'm heading out anyway. Weather's too nice to miss the opportunity." She started for the stairs.

Mavis tsked. "That boy is gonna regret not taking some time for himself…"

April's lips quirked. At forty-three, Mavis had a dozen years on Carter. Then again, she kind of mothered everyone, even the old guys that stopped in for lunch every Monday and Wednesday after their morning golf league.

April grabbed her trail shoes and headed out the back to the private lot. "I'll definitely have more fun than Carter today." She really needed to have a conversation about work-life balance with him…

This one is only in the beginning stages but I have some fun stuff planned for April and Carter.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin